The World Health Organization (WHO) says 42% of Africa’s population is suffering from a severe oral health crisis, alongside the highest global incidence of the devastating noma disease.
In its message to mark the 2025 World Oral Health Day, the Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the situation is dire.
While calling for urgent and collective action to tackle the crisis, he said the crisis is further exacerbated by a severe shortage of oral health workers, with only 0.37 professionals per 10,000 people, far below the required 1.33 per 10,000.
He pointed that only 17% of the population has access to essential oral health services, a deficit that has worsened the prevalence of diseases such as dental caries, gum disease, and noma, a gangrenous disease of the mouth that primarily affects young children.
Ihekweazu warned that survivors often suffer life-long impairments, disfigurement, stigma, and discrimination.
He explained that while some progress has been made, such as national policy development in Lesotho, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, and training initiatives in Ethiopia and Kenya, the overall situation remains alarming.
The WHO is urging African nations to accelerate the implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan, emphasizing the need for: Multi-sectoral engagement, Innovative funding mechanisms.
During the Global Oral Health Meeting in Thailand, attended by representatives from 29 African Member States, national roadmaps were developed to address these challenges.
A Regional Framework for Accelerating Implementation will be discussed at the upcoming Seventy-fifth Regional Committee for Africa.